The new branding keeps the emphasis on the fact it's more than a gun show, she said. The nation-wide focus and promotion opens more opportunities for growth, and more than $400,000 in tax revenue will come back into city coffers.

Thompson, who is also a member of the Michael Bloomberg group Mayors Against Illegal Guns, didn't exhibit any cognitive dissonance with the NRA stepping in to promote the show.

"I've never been anti-NRA," said Thompson.

In fact, she said she saw it as an opportunity.

"I hope the NRA would work with the mayor and have training and education programs in the schools," said Thompson. She said she also hoped they would help promote her "Safe Zone" initiative that seeks to take illegal guns off the street.

Thompson said she'd like the NRA to join Mayors Against Guns in trying to expand background checks to keep dangerous people from buying guns, banning military-style guns with high capacity clips and increasing the penalties for gun trafficking.

That could be a tall order, particularly with the second item - but Thompson said locally, she hoped the NRA "can become a leader in making sure background checks are done at the event" and in making sure there are no straw purchases or guns sold to people "just walking in off the street."

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